WebMD recommendations seem CRAZY

timetravelforfitness

I enjoy reading some WebMD articles, and then came across this: http://www.webmd.com/diet/calc-bmi-plus. When I put in my info it told me I wanted to have a calorie goal of 938. I admit I'm already close to 1200, with 1270 being my goal daily, but I was shocked. I thought, even including exercise, it was a bad idea to go below 1200, and this is A LOT more than that.

Have I misunderstood? I did say I wanted to lose 2 lbs a week, but I'm still shocked WebMD would allow something so low.

Am I misunderstanding how this works? I've been hitting a plateau, eating back exercise categories, going way over on stressful days, and so I was trying to get more info.

Iknowsaur

I don't think it's recommending anything.
That is probably the accurate number for what you'd need to be eating to lose 2 pounds a week.
That said, no one should expect to lose 2 pounds a week unless they are EXTREMELY overweight, in which case it would be a more reasonable number.

Jruzer

I just checked it out. All it does is calculate your maintenance calories and then subtract the deficit to match your targeted weight loss rate. It's a "dumb" calculator.

A few paragraphs below that, however, there is this disclaimer:
To stay healthy while you lose weight, we recommend that you eat and drink at least 1,200 calories per day. Bump up your exercise to burn more calories to make up the calories to reach your target.

If you take in fewer than 1,200 calories a day, you may not get enough nutrients to keep your body healthy. A very low-calorie diet can also slow your metabolism. You'll burn calories differently, and that could make it harder to lose weight. Very restrictive diets are mentally harder to stick to as well, and you could find yourself overeating.

DamianaKitten

You must not have actually read the whole page...

To stay healthy while you lose weight, we recommend that you eat and drink at least 1,200 calories per day. Bump up your exercise to burn more calories to make up the 43 calories to reach your target.

If you take in fewer than 1,200 calories a day, you may not get enough nutrients to keep your body healthy. A very low-calorie diet can also slow your metabolism. You'll burn calories differently, and that could make it harder to lose weight. Very restrictive diets are mentally harder to stick to as well, and you could find yourself overeating.

So, all the number you were given means is that it would be very unhealthy to lose at the rate you put into their calculator.

timetravelforfitness

I know, I did read the whole page, it was the comment about adding exercise to get to that limit. I have been eating my exercise calories... I guess it was a dumb question. I don't want to lose 2 lbs a week, I'm even okay not losing 1 lb a week. I just was confused about the conflicting advice it was giving. It made me think maybe I have been confused about all the advice I've read.

timetravelforfitness

Bump up your exercise to burn more calories to make up the 43 calories to reach your target.

...because for me, this was actually 200-some-odd calories. Right now I'm exercising so I can add more food to my calorie limit, which was recommended by MFP.

Jruzer

Keep on doing that. That's how MFP is supposed to be used.:happy:

timetravelforfitness

Thanks, I just bumped up to the calories it says to use for losing .5 lbs a week, I've been uncomfortable being at 1270, though not necessarily hungry on the days I kept at it.

scubasuenc

Funny, I just plugged my numbers into that and for a 2lb per week weight loss it is recommending 1691. Based on the TDEE calculators and my personal TDEE based on actual weight loss, I should eat between 1700 and 1800 to lose 2lb per week. Their numbers seem right in line.

I'm still in the range where that is a reasonable loss.

chasetwins

Mine was pretty spot on too - the only thing I do not agree on however is the target heart rate. It has mine at 91 -118 ?!?! My warm up put my HR is that zone!

BTW reading through it gives some valuable advice on dieting and what each thing means

timetravelforfitness

Funny, I was just thinking about heart rate today and wondering if mine would drop the more I exercise. Mine is usually around 90-118 when warming up too, and get's up to 160 for most of my runs.

chasetwins

Funny, I was just thinking about heart rate today and wondering if mine would drop the more I exercise. Mine is usually around 90-118 when warming up too, and get's up to 160 for most of my runs.

I do not run however my the workouts I do - I range between 155 and 164. And this is pretty consistent - I think I need to test my resting again if I ever rest lol